Lesley Dipple
Meet Lesley – our wonderful new PRS Foster Manager!
I honestly can’t remember a time when there wasn’t at least one dog in my life! For as long as I can remember, I’ve shared my home with dogs, and German Shepherd Dogs have always been a huge part of that. At one point I had three GSDs at the same time – because apparently one, two or even three dogs is never quite enough!
Over the years, I’ve also had the pleasure of sharing my life with an Irish Wolfhound, a Labrador x Whippet and Hungarian Vizslas, so I’ve experienced a pretty wide variety of canine personalities, quirks and, of course, muddy paws!
My experience with dogs goes well beyond simply having them as part of the family. I’ve run dog obedience and agility classes, and for the past 11 years I’ve been involved with Hampshire Search and Rescue Dogs, providing training support. And just to clarify before anyone imagines a pack of dogs chasing criminals… these amazing dogs are trained to search for missing people!
My current Vizsla is a rescue herself. She’s now a very respectable 15 years old and came to me from a UK rescue five years ago. She’s certainly earned her retirement and, I suspect, believes she is now senior management!
Since Christmas 2025, I’ve also had the privilege of fostering five PRS dogs, with number five very happily occupying my home, my sofa and probably a large portion of my heart! ❤️ She has only just headed off to her new forever home.
Alongside fostering for PRS, I also carry out home checks for Waggy Tails Rescue and German Shepherd Rescue Elite, so rescue dogs have become a rather important part of my life.
And now, after fostering so many of our PRS dogs and becoming such a valued and trusted member of the team, I’ve very happily and rather excitedly accepted the role of Foster Manager for PRS!
I think I’m probably a little too old now to take on the full-time commitment of having dogs of my own, which is why fostering is absolutely perfect for me. I get all the cuddles, kisses, muddy footprints and dog hair without having to commit to another 10–15 years of dog ownership!
But, most importantly, fostering gives me the opportunity to help dogs who have had to fend for themselves learn what life in a loving home is really about. Helping them discover that sofas are comfortable, humans can be trusted, dinner arrives regularly and a warm bed is theirs to sleep in is incredibly rewarding.
Hopefully, by giving them that safe stepping stone, we can help make the journey to their forever home just that little bit easier.
I’m looking forward to meeting more of our wonderful foster families, supporting them and, of course, getting to know plenty more PRS dogs along the way.
So, if you see me covered in dog hair, carrying treats and talking enthusiastically to a dog who is pretending not to listen… I’m probably at work!
